THE PROPOSAL
The single family home, suburban grid and car centric society are a glimpse of architectural responses derived from The Second Industrial Revolution in the late 19th Century. These responses are rooted in values around commodification, domestication, individualism and “the selling of “The American Dream”. These values were a catalyst for the horizontal sprawl and suburbia.
As we root these values sets into present day society, we need to question do these individualist and car centric values sets still hold true today?
I therefore challenge and desire to reshape the suburban grid, rooted in the context of Los Angeles, California. Through small, community, grassroots efforts, we as a collective, can begin to break down physical barriers and property lines to allow communal spaces to be shared. The soft infrastructure, of a customizable pergola system, is to act as a physical and metaphorical framework which not only holds space to gather but weaves the once individualistic community back together.
Multigenerational Living // Compton, Los Angeles // first proposal
WHO multigenerational
WHAT living together in overcrowded conditions
WHEN mid 2000s
WHERE looking at Southeast LA, Compton
WHY surging rent prices, supporting grandparents
HOW pulling communal spaces to the exterior
DESIGN OPPORTUNITY
Adapt the exist suburban grid in order to create communal spaces with neighboring homes by pulling the kitchen and living spaces outside to provide adequate sleeping space for all
Young Families //Long Beach, Los Angeles // second proposal
WHO millennials, young or new families
WHAT leaving city life and walkable amenities
WHEN 2019, start of pandemic
WHERE Long Beach
WHY desire for affordable housing; family home
HOW inserting walkable amenities
DESIGN OPPORTUNITY
Adapt the existing suburban grid in order to accommodate the work from home model but also plug in new programming in order to increase walkability and amenities nearby, that were once accessible by foot in the city
THE FRAMEWORK
Physical and metaphorical framework to hold the programming as it begins to weave the community back together. The framework to the left is a mere suggestion for the type of programing which could occur. Flexibility and customization to meet and adapt to the needs of the neighborhood as it evolves over time.